I've said this before, but (and I don't enjoy saying this) Bouillon needs to be cut some slack when paired with Murray. He's playing his off-side. I can't even remember the last time Bouillon played on the right.

I've said this before, but (and I don't enjoy saying this) Bouillon needs to be cut some slack when paired with Murray. He's playing his off-side. I can't even remember the last time Bouillon played on the right.

Also, Murray hits like a fridge, but he moves like one too. That's a LOT of responsibility for Cube to cover for. Emelin cant' get back soon enough.

I've said this before, but (and I don't enjoy saying this) Bouillon needs to be cut some slack when paired with Murray. He's playing his off-side. I can't even remember the last time Bouillon played on the right.

His whole time in Nashville for starters. When he played with the habs in his first stint too.

Habs will look different once Emelin returns, in my opinion. He's that important.

This is very true. His importance is objectively true, but now that he has that nice extension it shows he is valued highly by the staff. He'll surely get big minutes and the trickle down effect will be substantial. I just hopes he gets to play the left side. It just makes more sense. By next season, I think we're going to have a very nice balance of physical play and skill in our defence.

And he played on the left in his first season, and was in a better position to get the most out of his hitting talent. Emelin can play both sides, but his natural side is left.

I will say, he can look either more tentative or awkward playing the body on the right. Would love to see him develop that hip check on the right side, leaving his stick naturally blocking the middle of the ice while still being able to face the play, too (steering guys outside to the hip check).

That's what I hope happens. Markov-Gorges were a really solid pairing a few years ago before they both went down with ACL injuries. Gorges I find is actually better on his off-side. He did it for years with Markov and Gill.

Emelin I think would be even stronger on his natural side. I'd love to see an Emelin-Subban pairing.

Habs will look different once Emelin returns, in my opinion. He's that important.

No training camp, no beginning of season, unknown situation with knee, just signed a big deal so might not have the hunger.

It's possible that Emelin will be just fine and will pick up right when he left off... but that's still a lot of uncertainty. All factors that need to be taken into account. Emelin is not the safest bet to repeat. If the habs are banking on Emelin to save them they're not being very smart.

you guys got to manage your expectations, Emelin is good player but he has his weakness defensively, and also with such a major injury dont expect him to play like he was just coming out after a training camp and all adjusted to the rythm... expect a kind of faster murray with similar defensive mistakes, i am a huge emelin believer but he has is limits, defensive is not his forte even when fully healthy